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Christoph Blocher Provokes Still More Debate (Int'l Edition)

August 03, 1997

International -- Readers Report

CHRISTOPH BLOCHER PROVOKES STILL MORE DEBATE (int'l edition)

Congratulations on your excellent article "Man on a crusade" (European Business, July 14). It has cast some light on the life and the business of Christoph Blocher, one of the most controversial citizens of Switzerland.

Isn't it ironic that the man who heads one of the most successful Swiss chemical enterprises is also the main opponent to Swiss integration not only into the European Union, but also into the European Economic Area? Switzerland needs to export if it wants to retain its wealth. Integration into Europe would provide easier access to foreign markets. All the major Swiss companies want Switzerland to join the EU; failing that, they will export their jobs to EU countries.

Only Blocher is campaigning against integration, attracting the votes of farmers from central Switzerland who fear losing high prices for dairy products and meat. Blocher seems to work against the interests of his company.

Andre Orban

United Nations

Economic Commission for Europe

Geneva

Just to keep the record straight and to inform your readers and Mr. Blocher, too: The fund of $5 billion, as proposed by the President of the Swiss Federal Council (Executive Branch), is not intended to pay $5 billion in cash to Holocaust victims, but to set up a fund from which the proceeds will be paid to victims of injustice, crimes, and political persecution, which still exist in our day.

Peter Niklaus

Switzerland

Mr. Blocher is right: An objective look at the history of World War II reveals clearly that few European countries played a more positive role than Switzerland. Our small country resisted the political and military threat from the Nazi superpower by which it was completely surrounded. The Swiss population and thousands of refugees were spared from the horrors of war, destruction, and persecution, and the nation could uphold the ideals of humanity amid a barbaric environment. This outstanding historic success could be achieved only because of our credible policy of neutrality, deep-rooted democratic traditions, moral strength, military preparedness, intelligent diplomacy, and, admittedly, some concessions to the Nazis. We are grateful to our parents' generation for their courage and wisdom and do not understand why we should pay war reparations.

Jurg E. Tenucci

ZurichReturn to top

BRITISH RULE WAS A BLIP ON THE CHINESE RADAR SCREEN (int'l edition)

In reference to Joyce Barnathan's Commentary ("Hong Kong: So far, Tung is making all the right moves," Asian Business, July 14), Hong Kong will be fine under the leadership of C.H. Tung as long as China leaves Hong Kong alone and continues on its path of economic development and much more gradual political liberalization.

More than 80% of Hong Kong's economic success came into being in the past 20 years. That had far more to do with what has happened in Guangdong than with anything the British did or didn't do. With reunification, Hong Kong will do better, whereas Britain can only sink deeper into the abyss.

For those who think China is doing a shoddy job of national restructuring and reform, then the "viable alternatives" must be the resounding successes of Western-media-approved national reforms--is it Russia or India this month?--in nations of similar scale.

The 156 years of British rule in Hong Kong is a blip in China's long history. Now events are on track again.